Summary: Now the Battle of Maserfield had established Mercia as a dominant force on the island, and specifically it had demonstrated the military prowess of Penda. It was there that King Oswald of Northumbria was killed and his kingdom was split into two separate kingdoms, each with its own king. It was there that Mercian power, which had already been growing with their challenges to the West Saxons, reached its full stride and broke the Northumbrian Hegemony. And Mercian power was so complete that it successfully waged wars against challenges to multi-kingdom system that ruled Anglo-Saxon britain, taking down kings of East Anglia, ousting a King of Wessex, and even taking their wars into Bernicia. But now, in the aftermath of the Winwaed, it was King Oswald’s brother, King Oswiu of Bernicia, that was triumphant on the field of battle. Given the location, weather, and how outnumbered the Bernicians were in this battle, it makes one suspect that this was an ambush rather than a typical anglo saxon battle in the model of honorable combat. But however Oswiu managed to secure victory, he had won and had killed (and beheaded) the man who had killed his brother all those years ago. But a King’s work doesn’t end with a successful battle. Especially not a King like Oswiu. We’ve spoken at length in earlier episodes about how Penda had plenty of opportunities to annex kingdoms, or parts of kingdoms, but generally didn’t. Well, Oswiu didn’t have the same hesitation when it came to expansion.
